Last year, our staff posed questions like the following to help us envision our DSA Mission Statement: What reputation do we want our team and school to uphold? We are enthusiastic about how our updated Mission Statement clearly outlines a compelling goal that our team is actively pursuing.

Dear Coyote Families,

We had a great first week at DSA! This week our staff focused on creating classrooms and a school of belonging. This year we will also focus on the mindsets we must build for students such as the following:

• I feel like I belong, and I feel connected to someone and something, at school.

• I can find value, purpose, and relevance in school.

• I feel like I can be successful.

• I embrace difficulty and believe my ability grows when I put in the effort.

Band sign-ups will start next week. All 4th, 5th, and 6th-grade teachers at DSA have sign-up forms and information booklets for our students.

We are excited about the 24-25 school year and look forward to partnering with our families. Please read all of the important information below and enjoy a few pictures from our first week of school.

Sincerely,

Kelly Zywczyk

Principal, Desert Sun Academy

Tuesday, August 13th- PTO General Meeting-4:00 PM- Childcare will be provided

Wednesday, August 14th- Early Release-Dismissal at 2:00 PM

Friday, August 16th- Luau- Starting at 6:00 PM-7:30 PM

Monday, August 19th- DSA Dines Out- Barros-10:30 AM-10:00 PM

Wednesday, August 21st- Early Release- Dismissal at 2:00 PM

Wednesday, August 28th- Early Release- Dismissal at 2:00 PM

Friday, August 30th- Be You Day

Coaching Opportunities at DSA

We have exciting coaching opportunities here at DSA in the new school year. Each club is a season of 10 sessions and 1 culminating district activity. Typically these clubs are held before school but could happen after school. Coaches will be compensated for their time and energy. Please reach out to our P.E. Teacher Shaunna Baldyga if you are interested or have any questions. sbaldyga@ccusd93.net

Sep/Oct: Volleyball

Nov/Dec: Basketball

Jan/Feb: Cross Country

Mar/Apr: Track & Field

Families,

Having a PowerSchool Portal login is crucial for staying updated on your student's grades, assignments, attendance, and communication. It's required that your information and agreements are current each school year. If you do not have a PowerSchool account yet, please email powerschool@ccusd93.net or visit your school's front office staff for assistance.

New School Year Forms are now available.

Student and Parent Sign-In

To complete your new year forms – login to your PowerSchool account and select “Forms”, 24-25 Forms.

Any questions, please email powerschool@ccusd93.net

Last year our staff collaborated to identify and define the core values that speak to us as a school. This year we will set goals to live these core values.

• Parent Drop off begins at 8:45 am - please drive slowly and respect other drivers, walkers, and employees
• Parent Pick up begins at 3:30 pm - if using the drive-up line please place a pink placard in the front window

Our top priority during dismissal is student safety. Please follow these procedures to ensure a safe and orderly dismissal routine:

• We will only allow students to climb into cars on the passenger side of the vehicle.

• Stay in your car during arrival and dismissal.

• Use marked crosswalks to cross the parking lot.

• Please do not park and tell your child to walk to your car without supervision

• Please have your pink placard in your front window for drive-up.

• Please do not pass other drivers unless directed to do so.

• For the safety and security of all our students, we will not call students out of class for dismissal between 3:00-3:30 pm.

• All dismissal transportation changes need to be communicated to the teachers and our office prior to 2:30 pm.

Tops: Red, white or navy blue knitted or dry-fit golf shirts (with collar):

• Short or long sleeves with an official Desert Sun Academy crest/logo (available from Dylan Solutions).

• Friday’s students can wear DSA spirit t-shirts or Cactus Shadows or Sonoran Trails shirts.

• No other tops are acceptable.

Bottoms: Khaki/Tan, Black or Navy Blue:

• BOYS - Neat chinos, neat cotton fitted shorts, walking shorts or cargo shorts

• GIRLS – Skirts, pants, capris, jumpers, scooters / skorts or shorts; leggings are acceptable during colder weather but must be under shorts or a skirt.

• No stripes, embroidery, sweat pants, color trimmed or athletic bottoms

• Bottoms may be purchased from any store that carries uniform-type children’s clothing.

Caps:

Navy / Red caps with the official Desert Sun Academy logo - (available only from Dylan Solutions).

• Cactus Shadows/Sonoran Trails gear is acceptable.

• No other caps are acceptable and caps can only be worn outside.

Other dress code expectations:

• A black or brown belt is required if the pants are loose. It is recommended, but not required if your pants are snug around the waist.

• Shorts/skirts must be below mid-thigh.

• Shoes / sneakers must be neat, safe and appropriate. Laces must be tied.

• No flip-flops or water shoes are permitted.

• No athletic / gym type shorts are permitted.

• Crocs are discouraged due to students not being able to participate in PE, play running sports at recess or climb equipment.

• The principal or teachers will determine whether the clothing complies with the Desert Sun Academy dress code. If students are out of uniform, they will need to “borrow” a uniform from the health office and return it ironed and folded the next day, OR call home and have a parent bring a uniform to school.

Dear Families,

We want your child to succeed in school, which means supporting and encouraging their development. While excelling in academic classes is important, children also need skills to take on learning challenges, make good decisions, manage strong emotions, and get along with others.

This year, we’ll begin Second Step® Elementary, a research-based social-emotional learning program designed to improve children’s social-emotional skills. Second Step skills and concepts are designed to help children both in and out of school. Four units will cover the following:

Growth Mindset & Goal-Setting: Children learn how to pay attention and manage distractions,

develop a growth mindset, and apply goal-setting strategies to their social and academic lives.

Emotion Management: Children learn how to identify and label emotions and use emotion management strategies—including stress management for older students—to calm strong feelings.

Empathy & Kindness: Children learn how to recognize kindness and act kindly, have empathy for

others and take others’ perspectives, and recognize kind acts and empathy as important elements of building and maintaining relationships.

Problem-Solving: Children learn how to identify and state a problem, recognize if a problem is an

accident, and use the STEP problem-solving process:

S: Say the problem

T: Think of solutions

E: Explore the outcomes

P: Pick a solution

You’ll receive communications from your child’s teacher to help you reinforce Second Step language, skills, and goals at home. If you have any questions about Second Step Elementary, please don’t hesitate to contact me or your child’s teacher for more information. I appreciate your support as we work to build a safe and supportive school community/

A Medication Authorization Form must be completed and signed before the school is allowed to administer any medications (prescription and over-the-counter) to your child. Students are not allowed to carry medications without a note on file from the student's physician stating they may self-carry, self-administer. A parent/guardian must bring in any medications, in the original packaging or labeled prescription container. Please do not send any medications (prescription and over-the-counter) with your child, as it will be confiscated and destroyed. Our top priority is keeping all of our students and campus safe. We appreciate your understanding on this matter.

Hearing and Vision screenings are generally initiated at the beginning of the school year but continue as needed throughout the year in conjunction with the Arizona State Law and Department of Health Guidelines. Screenings performed in the health office are not equivalent to a comprehensive hearing/ear or vision/eye exam.

If your child was sent home with a change of clothing from the Health Office, please wash and return them promptly.

Sincerely,

Kari Wedge, Health Clinic Assistant

Angella Dittberner, R.N., CCUSD District Nurse

Kelly Zywczyk, Desert Sun Academy Principal

Dear Desert Sun Academy Families,

We are pleased to notify you that per the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), families have the right to request information regarding the professional qualifications of their child’s teacher(s). Specifically, you may request the following:

• Whether the teacher has met state qualification and licensing criteria

• Grade levels and/or subject areas in which the teacher provides instruction

• Whether the teacher is teaching under emergency or substitute status

• The baccalaureate degree major of the teacher and any other graduate certification or degree held by the teacher, and the field of discipline of the certification or degree

• Whether the child is provided services by paraprofessionals and, if so, their qualifications

If you would like to receive this information, please contact the main office at 480-575-2900.

Should you have any questions, please contact Kelly Zywczyk at kzywczyk@ccusd93.net.

Sincerely,

Kelly Zywczyk

Principal

• Teshya Hutchison- President
• Amy Kessinger- Vice President
• Kylee Steier- Secretary
• Kelsi Westhoff- Treasurer

Office Depot OfficeMax at the Summit in Scottsdale is a strong believer that strong community partnerships can make a significant difference in the education and support the development of young minds. To create a meaningful connection with Desert Sun Academy (DSA), OfficeMax has put DSA on the spotlight and is raising funds at checkout for DSA! OfficeMax at the Summit has your back everyday, helping unlock potential so everyone can succeed wherever and whenever. Aside from collecting donations at the registers everyone can support DSA via the Give Back to Schools (GBTS) program. Some schools earn up to $3,000 a school year by spreading the word to everyone in their community to Give Back To School. It is simple, when making a purchase at Office Depot OfficeMax, provide the school's name at checkout and DSA will receive 5% back in credits for FREE supplies! It's a small act that can make a huge difference. Aside from support for the school, you'll get great selection, great savings, and great service at 32337 N Scottsdale Rd. #DepotDifference

Information for Voluntary Student Accident and Sickness Insurance plans for purchase including plans for athletics can be found at https://myers-stevens.com/enrollment/

Arizona 's tax law (ARS 43-1089.01) allows families a tax credit of up to $400 if they contribute to extracurricular activities in public schools. Individuals can give up to $200. Contributions that are made on or before the fifteenth day of the fourth month (April 15), following the close of the taxable year, may be applied to either the current or preceding taxable year and is considered to have been made the last day of that taxable year.

(Please see the picture below to show the simplicity of how it works)

Extracurricular activities are school-sponsored activities that may require enrolled students to pay a fee, including fees for:

• Extracurricular activities, such as field trips, student council and our amazing science lab!
• Character education programs.

From and after June 30, 2019 through June 30, 2024, these items are also Tax Credit eligible:

• Capital items (example: furniture, furnishings, athletic equipment, computer software, pupil & non pupil transportation vehicles & equipment, textbooks, instructional aids, library books)
• Student consumable health care supplies (example: tissues, hand wipes, bandages)
• Playground equipment, shade structures for playground equipment

A single individual or a head of household can use the tax credit for $200. A married couple filing a joint return can use the tax credit for $400. Tax credit donations made on or before April 15th may be applied to either the current or preceding tax year.

How to contribute in a few easy steps!

1. Write a personal check to the school of your choice
   (checks CANNOT be accepted from Partnerships, S Corporations, Regular Corporations, Trusts, Estates and LLCs)
2. Mail or deliver the check to the school with a completed tax credit form.
3. You will be provided with a receipt verifying your contribution.
4. You can claim your tax credit of up to $400.

Email: kzywczyk@ccusd93.net
Website: https://www.ccusd93.org/dsa
Phone: 480-575-2900
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Desertsunacademy
Twitter: @CCUSD_93